USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county, who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time > Part 70
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seventeen years. In the meantinic he had decided upon the legal profession as his future course in life and immediately after his graduation from college he went to Newark, N. J., and began the study of law in the office of Judge Whitehead. Subsequently, in order to provide the means with which to fur- ther prosecute his legal studies, he taught a Latin and grammar class in a young man's boarding school in Monmouth, after which he took up his studies in the law school of Yale College.
A turning point in the life of the young law student came in the spring of 1853, when he determined to seek his fortune in California. He arrived in San Francisco on April 15, 1853, having made the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and after remaining in the metropolis for a few months, in October came to Vallejo township, Sonoma county, where a brother owned and man- aged a ranch. After remaining on the ranch for about a year he removed to Petaluma and opened his first office for the practice of his profession. This was a memorable time in the history of Sonoma county. the year 1855 being especially memorable for the heated contest that was waged as to the location of the county-seat. Up to this time Sonoma had the honor of administering the affairs of the county, but by a majority of the voters it was decided to remove the seat of government to Santa Rosa. The change was made that year and Santa Rosa has since continued to be the county-seat. It was about this time that Mr. Temple removed to this town and formed a partnership with Judge William Ross, an association that lasted two years, when, in 1857. he be- came associated with ex-County Judge Charles P. Wilkins. This partnership continued until 1860, after which, until 1867, Mr. Temple was associated in practice with Judge A. Thomas. In the year last mentioned Mr. Temple re- moved to San Francisco and became associated with H. H. Haight, but the co- partnership was shortly afterward dissolved owing to Mr. Haight's election to the governorship of the state. After the latter assumed the duties of the gubernatorial chair he was able to be of assistance to his recent friend and partner, through a vacancy in the supreme court being able to appoint him judge of this august body. Judge Temple fulfilled the duties of the high posi- tion to which he had been assigned with marked ability, gaining a reputation as a jurist which had not been equalled by any of his predecessors, nor has it been surpassed by any of his worthy successors.
Upon the expiration of his term of office Judge Temple resumed the prac- tice of law with his former partner, Governor Haight, an association which continued until 1875, when the ill-health of Mrs. Temple made a change of cli- mate necessary. It was this circumstance that brought Judge Temple to Santa Rosa, and here he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life.
By act of the legislature, in March, 1876, the Twenty-second judicial district was created, made up from the wealthy and populous counties of Sonoma, Men- docino and Marin. The then governor, William Irvin, honored Judge Temple with the position of judge in the new district, a recognition of his ability again placing him in a position which he was eminently qualified to fill. No better proof of his ability could be given than in saying that at the expiration of his first term he was unanimously elected his own successor at the regular judicial election, this election being for a term of six years. He had served two years
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when the new constitution was adopted. Under its provision the courts were reorganized, the county and district courts were abolished and superior courts created. This change meant even greater honors for Judge Temple, being nom- inated for superior judge by the Democratic party and receiving the largest num- ber of votes of any candidate on the county ticket.
Thus far reference has been made to Judge Temple's legal ability and legal associations only. However, his reading and study extended into all branches . of learning, being thoroughly informed on matters in standard and current lit- erature. If he had a hobby outside of his profession it might be said to be the study of political economy, a science in which he was exceedingly well versed. Judge Temple was a man of varied talents, finely equipped for the practice of his profession. Well-grounded in the fundamental principles of the law, his extended experience enabled him to gain a mastery over the intricacies of its practice which gave him a position among the most successful contemporaries in the state. Logical in argument, kcen in debate, eloquent in his addresses be- fore the jury, and, withal, a man of unimpeachable integrity, he gained a distinc- tion which few attain. Broad-minded, liberal and possessing great utility, he made an indelible impress upon the progress of events in California. .
Judge Temple was married June 3, 1868, to Christie H. Hood, who was born in New Zealand and was a niece of William Hood, a pioneer owner of the Rancho Los Guilicos, which occupied the whole of Los Guilicos valley. Mrs. Temple died July 1, 1903, leaving the following children: Thurlow; Dr. Jack- son Temple, city health officer of Santa Rosa; Mrs. P. D. Clary and Miss Rosa- mond Temple, of Santa Rosa; Mrs. Fred Keeling, of Vancouver, B. C .; and Mrs. A. W. McLeod, of New Westminster, B. C.
BYRON M. SPENCER.
For over thirty-five years the life of Mr. Spencer has been associated with the commercial and business interests of Santa Rosa, and he naturally feels a personal interest in it that might be described as similar to the affection of a father for a child he had reared. Like many of those who have made successes in the west Mr. Spencer is a native of the far east, his birth having occurred in Albany county, N. Y., in 1842. The circumstances surrounding his childhood and youth were such that he was enabled to acquire a good education and with this as his chief asset he left home at the age of twenty years, bent on making his own way in the world. Going to New York City, he was fortunate in finding employment in a large wholesale importing house, and for the following ten years he remained with the same house, being promoted from time to time and receiving increased remuneration with the added duties and responsibilities. From this eastern metropolis he went to Omaha, Neb., where he established him- self in the grocery business and continued in the same as long as he remained in that city.
Upon selling out his interests in Omaha, Neb., Mr. Spencer came to Cali- fornia, and the same year, in 1874, settled in Santa Rosa and opened a grocery store on Fourth street. The town was little more than a hamlet when he first
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8.Bolla
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came here, claiming a population of only fifteen hundred people, and he has watched its growth to its present size and importance with the keenest interest. The grocery store which he then established was one of the largest opened in the town, and his patronage increased steadily as long as he maintained the business. In connection with this he also dealt in real estate and wrote insur- ance, combining these varied interests with success for many years. He claims the honor of being the oldest representative of the Firemen's Fund Insurance Company of San Francisco in the employ of the company, his record covering a period of thirty-six years. The sale and transfer of real-estate has formed an equally important part of the business in which he is engaged, and he conser- vatively estimates that he has sold over seven hundred lots in and about town dur- ing the long period of his residence here. Ever since he came to Santa Rosa in 1874 he had combined the writing of insurance and dealing in real-estate with the maintenance of his grocery business, but disposed of the latter a few years ago in order to concentrate his attention more closely on the real-estate and insurance business, which in the meantime had developed to such proportions that the change was imperative. In addition to two fine family residences on Mc- Donald avenue, Mr. Spencer is the owner of a number of valuable city lots.
Mr. Spencer's marriage was celebrated in Concord, N. H., in 1869, uniting him with Miss Nellie M. Adams, a native of Maine. Three children, all sons, were born of this marriage. Harvey W. died in 1877; Louis R. is employed with the Marathon Paper Mill Company of Wausau, Wis .; and Ralph J. is in the navy as quartermaster on the United States cruiser Albany. In 1900 Mr. Spencer was bereaved by the death of his wife. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to all branches of the order. Since the organization of the Santa Rosa Humane Society, in December, 1906, Mr. Spencer has been closely associated with the work and is now secretary of the local organization. Upon the organization of the State Humane Society, in 1909, he became a charter member and is serving on some of the important committees.
BATTISTA BOLLA.
Into every part of the world the republic of Switzerland has sent her sons and daughters, and wherever they have gone they have taken with them the traits of thrift, economy and perseverance characteristic of their race. The colonies they have settled have benefited by their presence, and the ranches they lease or purchase soon show the influence of their industry and wise judg- ment. As citizens they neglect no duty, yet they show no aggressive self-assert- iveness. It is only seldom that they drift into politics, for their tastes do not lie in that direction, they being pre-eminently a quiet, domestic, home-loving class, enjoying best the uneventful round of daily duties in the dairy or field.
The qualities noticeable in his countrymen are also found in the character of Battista Bolla, a native of Switzerland, who was born in the canton of Ticino in 1868, the second in order of birth of three children born to his parents, Anton and Mary (Maorelli) Bolla, both natives of Switzerland, born respect- ively in 1804 and 1834. The father was a man of prominence and ability in the
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town of Cevio, where he served faithfully as mayor for the long period of twenty years. By trade he was a contractor and builder, and throughout the town in which he lived many evidences of his skill were to be seen in the pictur- esque houses for which his land is noted the world over. All of the children comprising the family are still single, and the only daughter, Tranquilla, is still a resident of her native land. Both of the sons are residents of the United States, the eldest, Anton, making his home in Santa Rosa, Cal.
When he was a youth of fifteen years Battista Bolla assumed responsibil- ities by setting out alone for the United States, but he looks back upon the ven- ture as a wise one, for here he has accomplished more than would have been possible in his native land. Within a few miles of Petaluma, on Rural Route No. 4, he is located on seven hundred acres of land which lie leases from W. D. Ayers. Here the dairy business and the poultry industry vie with each other for supremacy, and as both are in a flourishing condition and constantly being enlarged by the owner, it would be difficult to say in which business his chief interest lies. The milk of one hundred cows supplies his dairy, in connection with which he maintains a cheese factory, in the maintenance of which he is putting to practice an industry which he learned in his native land, where dairy- ing and cheese-making have reached the highest excellence. Every year wit- nesses the enlargement of his dairy plant, as it does also of his poultry yard, where at the present writing he has twelve hundred chickens of excellent breed. Seven head of horses of high grade are also being raised on the ranch, as well as young stock which will in time contribute to the enlargement of the dairy.
Continuing in the faith in which he was reared, Mr. Bolla is a Roman Cath- olic, being a communicant of the church of that faith at Petaluma. Politically he is a Republican. As has been stated, Mr. Bolla has never married, and in the care-free life which he leads upon his ranch he finds plenty to occupy his time in its maintenance. When opportunity permits he takes genuine pleasure in trying his skill as a marksman, for he considers there is no sport that can equal hunting.
CHARLES MCAFEE.
Fine and deserving traits of character have contributed to the success of Charles McAfee, who came to California in 1867 and has been a resident of Sonoma county since 1885. He came here with limited means, but by well directed energy has accumulated a competence of which anyone might well be proud. Not only has a productive property been brought to its highest state of development, a refined and hospitable home established, but a family of nine children has been reared primarily to industry and moral worth and to that superior intellectual growth which insures its members an honored place in what- ever community they elect to reside.
Mr. McAfee has no personal knowledge of his birthplace, Logan county, Ill., where he was born in 1845, for when he was only one year old his parents removed to Iowa, and it is with the latter state that his earliest experiences are associated. During the thirteen years that the family remained there he attended school and became initiated into the work incident to farm life, the father owning and maintaining a farm in the various localities in which he
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lived. In 1859 another removal brought them to Livingston county, Mo., and it was while working in the fields there that Charles McAfee determined to offer his services on the altar of his country. He was mustered in at Laclede, Mo., September 27, 1861, and served respectively under Col. John Morgan and Col. Madison Miller, in the Eighteenth Missouri Infantry, the latter being superseded by Colonel Sheldon after the battle of Shiloh. Mr. McAfee was fortunate in escaping injury of any kind during the first year of his service, but during the battle of Pittsburg Landing he suffered what was perhaps even harder to bear, being taken a prisoner and incarcerated in a loathsome prison for three months and twenty days. He was then discharged from the service. in St. Louis, his term of enlistment having expired, but in March, 1863, he again offered his services and was accepted in the cavalry service. He served throughout the remainder of the war, and was mustered out July 27, 1865, at New Orleans.
For a couple of years following his return from the war Mr. McAfee resumed farming in Missouri, and then, in 1867, came to California. From San Francisco, where he first located, he went to Woodland, Yolo county, and was identified with that section of the state for the following nine years. Coming to Sonoma county at the end of that time, he continued ranching in this county, and finally, in 1885, purchased the beautiful ranch of fourteen acres which has since been his home. The price paid for the property is only a fraction of its present worth, $4,000, and even at this price Mr. McAfee could not be induced to part with it. His specialty is the raising of chickens, besides which he has a thriving orchard of apples and other fruits, and also raises hay and grain.
Mr. McAfee was married in 1876 to Miss Rosa Emma Ogden, a native daughter of the state, her birth occurring in Sacramento county in 1858. The eldest of the nine children born of this marriage is James A., who is a practicing dentist in Sacramento; Albert Lincoln is in business in Portland, Ore .; Sadie M. is the wife of Ernest Waymeyer, and resides in Sacramento, Cal .; Georgia is the wife of Archibald Gale and the mother of two children; Loren is in Sacra- mento, as is also the next son, Vern; Ruth is at home with her parents; Leslie is employed in Sacramento; and Earl is a pupil in the local schools. Politically Mr. McAfee is a Republican, and by virtue of his service in the Civil war, is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. On the paternal side he is a de- scendant of southern ancestors, his father being a native of Kentucky, while his mother was a native of Indiana.
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER HOWARD.
Alike as the scene of childhood pleasures and the strenuous activities of manhood, Sonoma county is endeared to this native son, who has witnessed the gradual transformation of the region from its primeval wild and undevel- oped condition to a state of prosperous fertility in harmony with the progressive tendencies of the people. When he was a young lad much of his time was devoted to hunting and he became an expert marksman, supplying the family larder with every kind of wild game that the locality afforded. With the in- coming of settlers in large numbers the game became less plentiful, but he is still able to secure numerous trophies of his skill with the rifle, and has a local
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
reputation for hunting the deer in their season. He still makes his home in Occidental, where he was born in 1868 and where practically all of his busy life has been passed, the only exception being a period of fourteen months spent in San Francisco as an employe of the California Street Car Company.
The residents of Sonoma county and particularly those associated with the local early history recall with interest the personality of that early settler and honored citizen, William Howard, who came to this part of the state in a very early day and contributed his quota to local development, being especially active in village affairs at Occidental, his home town. A native of Copenhagen, Den- mark, he came to Occidental in the '50s and engaged in the stock business. While he did not accumulate large means he gained that which is more to be desired, viz .: the esteem of associates and the warm regard of acquaintances. To his children he gave such opportunities as his limited means permitted, and his son, William C., was sent to the local schools until he had completed the regular course of study, after which he took up the task of earning a livelihood. Going to San Francisco he remained for fourteen months, but at the expiration of that time he returned to Occidental and embarked in the transfer business, which he conducted for three years. Next he entered the employ of the North- ern Pacific Railroad Company as a bridge carpenter, and for seven years he remained in the same position, since which time he has been continuously en- gaged as section foreman on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, with ' quarters at Occidental, his native village.
The marriage of William C. Howard was solemnized in 1893 and unile. him with an attractive Italian girl, Tresa Franceska, who had come to this coun- try in childhood from her native Italy. Only one child blessed the union. This daughter, Mabel Caroline, was born at Occidental in 1894 and has been given splendid advantages, being a graduate of the Meeker grammar school and also a talented musician. The family has a large circle of friends and enjoys the regard of all with whom business or social relations bring them in contact. While interested in all movements for the general welfare, Mr. Howard has never sought political prominence nor is he identified with any of the frater- nities. In casting his ballot he supports the men whom he considers best qual- ified for public service, studying their ability and character rather than their partisan views. The responsibilities of liis position are such that he cannot identify himself actively with public enterprises, yet he has proved himself to be patriotic and progressive. Such men, industrious, loyal and well-informed, form the bulwark of the community and our nation's chief source of strength.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TAYLOR.
The modern and well-kept ranch which belongs to Benjamin F. Taylor be- speaks the ability and energy which have characterized the effort put into the cultivation of the property. Santa Rosa is his postoffice and market town, where he finds a ready market for all of the produce and stock which his ranch pro- duces.
A native of the state and county of which he is now a resident, Mr. Taylor was born in Geyserville in 1865, the son of Henry M. and Rebecca (Rhodes)
Mrs Helen L Waldrop
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Taylor, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. The father died in 1902, the mother having preceded him many years, her death occurring in 1869. Besides an own sister, Mrs. Duncan, Mr. Taylor has five half-sisters. When he was a child of four years Mr. Taylor was taken by his parents to Healdsburg, remaining there six years, after which removal was made to Middletown, Lake county, and three years later they returned to Sonoma county. All of his life thus far had been passed in an agricultural community, and thus when he at- tained mature years Mr. Taylor naturally adapted himself to his environment and took up the life of the agriculturist. Two miles from Santa Rosa may be seen as fine a ranch as can be found in Sonoma county, the property of Mr. Taylor and the scene of his activities since 1893. Here he has one hundred and ten acres of fine land, eighteen acres in grapes, thirty-five acres in grain, and fifty-five acres in pasture, on which he raises and fattens his stock, horses, cows, besides six hundred chickens. All of these varied interests yield good incomes, and from his grapes alone during the year 1909 he received $540 for forty-five tons of fruit.
In 1888 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Lulu Manion, one of the four children born of the marriage of William and Elizabeth (Barnett) Manion, her birth occurring in Sonoma county in 1865. A sketch of her father, William Manion, and her brother, William H. Manion, will be found elsewhere in this volume. Her sisters are, Sarah F., the wife of W. C. Wooley; and Lilly Belle, now Mrs. P. D. Wheeler. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have one child, Ethel, who was born July 7, 1902, and is now attending the district school near the home of her parents. Politically Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, and with his wife is a member of the church of Latter Day Saints.
MRS. HELEN L. WALDROP.
By no means can it be said that all of the prosperity now visible in Sonoma county is traceable to the energy of the masculine citizens alone, and undoubt- edly far too little credit reaches the deserving women who have done their part in bringing about the splendid conditions which have made Sonoma county an agricultural center without a peer in the state. Among this noble class of women mention belongs to Mrs. Waldrop, who for over a quarter of a century has lived upon and managed the ranch which is her home today, five miles north- east of Healdsburg. All of the vines in the vineyard and the trees in the orchard were set out under her immediate supervision, and their growth and develop- ment have been watched with a keen and practiced eye. Here may be seen the largest and most thrifty prune orchard in the county, seventy-five acres being in bearing condition, and when the thirty acres recently set out to prunes come into bearing, Mrs. Waldrop may unquestionably be called the prune queen of Sonoma county.
A native of Missouri, Helen L. Schell, as she was known in maidenhood, was born in Elk Mills, McDonald county, in 1858. During her early childhood her parents removed to Texas, and in that southern state she was reared and educated. After the death of her parents in Texas she went to White Sulphur Springs, Ark., with an uncle, making her home with this relative until her marriage in 1876, in Maysville, Ark., with B. M. Jones, who was a merchant
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in Indian territory. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jones re- turned to Indian territory with the intention of making it their permanent home. However, after several years Mr. Jones sold out his business and in 1881 he and his wife came to California. Coming to Sonoma county at that time, they settled on property near Healdsburg, but after remaining here one year they decided to return east and accordingly gave up their holdings. Although their experience in California had not met their expectations, neither did their experience of three years in the east, and it was at the end of this period that they determined to return to the west and resume their labors in Sonoma county. Hither they returned in the year 1884, and four miles from Healds- burg they purchased two hundred acres of farming land and at once began its development. All of the trees in the prune orchard were set out by Mr. Jones, but he did not live to see results from his work, for his death occurred soon after the orchard was set out. The responsibility and care of the ranch fell suddenly upon the shoulders of Mrs. Jones, who up to this time had had no practical experience in this line. However, she had been her husband's constant companion and co-laborer in years past and as a consequence she was better prepared for the task than would otherwise have been the case, and the success with which she has since met has proved beyond a question her unusual adapt- ability for and interest in the work in which she is engaged. In addition to the one hundred and five acres in prunes, she has one hundred acres in pasture. The raising of prunes, however, is the chief industry of the ranch, in con- nection with which there is also an up-to-date drier. From seventy-five to eighty tons of dried fruit is an average output for the season, the income from which amounts to $10,000.
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